Mobile price-rail marker

ABSTRACT

An animated, self-oscillating price-rail marker, having a base tab on the end of a flexible strip for attachment to the price rail of a commodity shelf, including advertising display and direction indicating tags, and having means on the other end of the strip for hanging the display from a stationary support in special attention-getting spatial relationship before the commodity; the marker device having wiggle-waggle mobility for getting the attention of the passer-by, and having stretching motion for pointing-out the direction and location of a particular commodity of special sale, both of which are animated by air movements occurring in the environment.

United States Patent [19] Berry, Jr.

[ 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] MOBILE PRICE-RAIL MARKER v [75] Inventor: Thomas L. Berry, Jr., Deerfield, lll.

[73] Assignee: Litho-Paint Poster Company,

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Sept. 10, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 71,153

[52] US. Cl. ..40/128, 40/125, 40/124 .l

[51] Int. Cl. ..G09f 7/22 [58] Field of Search ..40/125, 138, 128, 37, 28 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,484,231 2/1924 Pistocco ..40/128 2,911,746 11/1959 Frey ..40/128 3,041,760 7/1962 Slavsky ..40/10R 3,411,228 11/1968 Lacey ..40/124.l

Berry et al. ..40/125 R X Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attainey-Rummler & Snow [57] ABSTRACT location of a particular commodity of special sale, 7

both of which are animated by air movements occurring in the environment.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9l973 I 3,708,899

sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS L. BERRY, JR.

BY Q

PATENTEDJMI 9|973 SHEET 2 OF 2 oooooooooooooooo i ET :4 6

I INVENTOR. THOMAS L. BERRY, JR.

MOBILE PRICE-RAIL MARKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns the art of sales promotion in retail stores, and especially the use of the attentiongetting spatial relationship of an animated, self-oscillating price-rail marker having wiggle-waggle mobility to catch the attention of the passerby in the store, and having lengthwise mobility for pointing-out the direction and location of a particular commodity on special sale, thereby making an impulse buyer out of the passer-by. Advertising displays of the price-rail marker type, spatially located before the shelf, pointing out the commodity of interest in an animated manner to attract the attention of the prospective buyer and generate within him the impulse to buy, have particular utility in super-markets where it is desirable to promote sales by inducing the passer-by to buy a commodity which he had no intention of buying at the time he entered the store.

In particular the present invention concerns inexpensive, flexible, one-piece price-rail indicators fabricated from sheet material in the flat, having at least one advertising tag and an arrow tag for pointing out in particular the shelf whereon the commodity lies, suspended to wiggle and waggle and, having stretching motion toward and away from the commodity, creating the impulse to buy. The prior art of animated, selfoscillating price-rail markers has mostly been of the wiggle-waggle type. Mobile animation in the stretchable mode was invariably achieved by special motor devices. Such motor devices are heavy and costly, not suited for installation at commodity shelf level or location. On the other hand, self-oscillating wiggle-waggle price-rail markers have been simple and low in cost meeting the requirements of the retail trade. For example, my prior US. Pat. No. 3423860 discloses such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON Resilient longitudinal stretchability is a new mode of animation for price-rail markers which adds a new dimension to the art of retail sales promotion. Whereas, heretofore, other price-rail markers have caught the eye of the passer-by by a mystifying, apparently, selfmotivated wiggle-waggle appearance alone, the retail sales manager now has the option to use a price-rail marker having an additional degree of freedom of selfoscillating movement in the direction of the suspending strip so that when the base tab end of the strip is attached to the price-rail on the shelf adjacent the commodity, and the other end of this strip is hung from the ceiling or other stationary support over the aisle, the arrow display tag suspended from the strip oscillates back and forth before the eye of the passer-by indicat ing to him the direction of the commodity of interest on sale and urging him to go over and buy.

This invention provides a self-oscillating price-rail indicator wherein the advertising display tag is suspended outwardly and upwardly from the price-rail on a lengthwise resilient strip and is adapted to hang out over the aisle in a manner which naturally attracts the lies in the discovery of a particular relationship between the longitudinal curvature of the serially connecting, lengthwise resilient segments making up the suspending strip, and the stretching motion toward and away from the commodity by the attached indicator tag in response to the variable forces and vagaries of the air currents thereabouts of the commodity shelf.

More particularly, it has been found that by providing a display strip made up of a number of longitudinally curved, flexible, lengthwise resilient segments, each alternately curved in the opposite sense and serially attached, which is supported at the one end by the base tab on the price rail and on the other end by a hook in the ceiling or other stationary support over the aisle, a display tag suspended thereon, with the flexible strips connected. off-center to one side of the tag, will have its plane surface essentially perpendicular to and extending outwardly of and upwardly spaced from, the plane of the commodity shelf. By varying the curvature of the connecting lengthwise resilient segments making up the suspending strip, simply by installing the strip more taut between the price rail and the other point of attachment, the spatial relationship between the indicator display and the commodity shelf can be controlled to produce combinations of spatial relationships and back and forth movement as desired. Furthermore, a number of such suspended indicators or tags can be used in a display sequence vertically, diagonally or horizontally, to produce unusual attention-getting effects along a display shelf. Also, the device of this invention can be readily fabricated in one piece from inexpensive sheet material, and can be retained in flat sheet form for easy storage until use is desired.

This invention also concerns a price rail marker, wherein animation is achieved without the aid of motive power. Any air movement due to natural convection, movement of passers-by, or from fans in the general vicinity, is sufficient to set the display wigglewaggling and oscillating back and forth with the vicissitudes of the ambient air currents.

In particular, in addition to the longitudinally resilient connecting strip for supporting advertising displays, which is novel in the art of inducing self-oscillating stretching motion toward and away from a particular location, the gist of this invention lies in the method of one-piece construction of the stretchable strip and suspended display tags out of flat sheet material. The stretchable strip, according to this invention, though geometrically complex when installed, is simple to manufacture.

A convention steel rule die cuts the strip in the flat by striking a series of parallel straight-line cuts spaced apart a distance equal to the desired width of the strip. Alternate straight-line cuts have points of origin on a common line and terminate on a second common line. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, this second common line of termination points falls short of the common line of points of origin of next-adjacent straight-line cuts lying in the inverse direction interdigitating between the first straight-line cuts.

Simultaneous to the striking of the straight-line cuts in the flat sheet alternate points of origin of every other straight line cut are connected at both inverse and obverse ends of the straight-line cuts with closing semicircular end cuts of diameter equal to twice the desired width of the individual strips when in the flat.

Base tab, display tags, and stretchable strip are die cut out of the flat sheet in a one-piece, unitized assembly. Intermittent breaks in the enveloping cut are left by the blanking die to form small points of support and attachment of the assembly in the flat sheet matrix, holding the assembly together for ease of handling and storage. Preparation of the price rail marker assembly for installation involves easy tearing of the supports of the assembly out of this holding matrix.

The stretchable strip of this invention is installed simply by pulling the strip out of its projection on the fiat sheet and then attaching the base tab to the price rail and the opposite end to a hook in the ceiling or other stationary support over the aisle.

The stretchable strip manufactured by the method of this invention, can also be designed to provide visual aid by variation in color to promote the sale of commodities. If the flat sheet used in the blanking process described is colored differently on opposite sides, and the strip according to this invention is blanked-out, thereon, the result will be, on pulling out and stretching the strip for installation, alternate segments of the strips in alternate colors when viewed from either side.

Accordingly, the primary objects of this invention are to provide an improved, animated, self-oscillating price rail marker capable of stretch movement for generating impulse buying; to provide an animated, self-oscillating price rail marker having alternate colored segments of the strip in self-oscillating mobility when viewed from either side; and to provide a stretchable price rail marker which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to store and handle, simple to install, and adapted to be used with existing slotted price rails on commodity shelves in stores.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order to demonstrate the invention, reference is made to the non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stretchable price rail marker according to this invention with base tab in position within the slots of a price rail, suspending the multiple display tags on the stretchable strip at one end, and having a hook and eye attachment at the ceiling of the room suspending the display at the other end.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the stretchable strip showing successive segments of the strip presenting views of different colors on respective faces of alternate segments; and showing the relationship of the semi-circular end closure cuts and the terminating ends of the straight-line cuts.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base tab, on the one end of the stretchable strip, in position within the slots of a price rail suspending the strip.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the one-piece blanked-out as sembly showing an advertising display tag, an indicator arrow tag, a stretchable connecting strip with eyelet holes for hook and eye attachment to a suitable support, a base tab for price rail attachment, and intermittent breaks in the blanking die cuts for holding the assembly together for ease of storage and handling.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the method of cutting a blank to form the resilient strip.

I THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, the stretchable price-rail marker comprises a base tab 1, a first resiliently stretchable strip 2, an arrow display tag 3, a flexible connecting strip 4, an advertising display tag 5, a second stretchable strip 6, and eyelet means 7, as a one-piece assembly of parts formed from sheet material of flexible nature such as paper, plastic or coated sheet material.

In FIG. 3 base tab 1 has a top straight edge 8 and angular sides 9. The bottom edge 10 has spaced notches 1 1, the inner edges of which define the wide base. 12 of the stretchable strip 2. The lower end of wide base 12 attaches to or is part of stretchable strip 2 joining the same at the narrow end 13. As shown in the flat in FIG. 4, stretchable strip 2 comprises a plurality of serially connected longitudinally curved segments 14 of vary-.

ing length and equal width alternately joined on opposite ends by semi-circular ends 15, with end 16 at taching to or being part of arrow display tag 3 joining the same at the point 17 of the display tag 3, again as shown in the flat in FIG. 4.

Display tag 3 is in the form of an arrow having a point 17 formed by the converging sides 18. The sides 19 of tag 3 run straight back to back-end 20. End 21 of flexible strip 4 is connected to the back-end to one side of center line 22. Other end 23 of flexible strip 4 is connected to point 23 on advertising display tag 5 to the side of center line 24.

Stretchable strip 6 is connected to point 25 on advertising display tag 5 off to the same side of center line 24 as in the case of other end 23 and comprises a plurality of serially connected segments 26 of equal length and width alternately joined on opposite ends by semi-circular ends 27, with eyelets 7 punched in the center thereof for attachment to hook 28 conveniently placed at some distance adjacent or on the ceiling over the aisle. FIG. 4 shows break 29 in cut 30 for holding the assembly together during storage and handling.

FIG. 5 shows a method of making resiliently stretchable strip out of flat sheet material, comprising a series of serially connected, elongated, parallel segments of predetermined length and width, by blanking out the stretchable strip in a conventional die andstriking a plurality of parallel straight-line cuts in the flat sheet of length equal to the length of the segment desired and spaced a distance equal to the width of the segment desired. The first straight-line cut 31 has its point of origin 32 on a first common line 33 and terminates on a parallel second common line 34, having next-adjacent straight-line cut 35 lying in the inverse direction to and interdigitating between the first straight-line cut 31 and its next alternate straight-line cut 36 in the obverse direction. Inverse straight-line cut 35 has its point of origin 37 on a third parallel line 38, and point of termination at a distance 39 short of the point of origin of the first straight-line cut. All interdigitating straightline cuts are short of the corresponding point of origin an equal distance 39. The points of origin of the alternate straight-line cuts are each connected by a single cut 40 spaced at some distance 41 from the termination of the interdigitating straight-line cut.

Although only one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that the details of construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An animated, self-oscillating price rail marker comprising:

1. A display tag;

2. A first segmented means having a predetermined length and opposed ends one of which is connected to the display tag and the other end of which is connected to a price rail; and

3. A second segmented means having a predetermined length and opposed ends one of which is connected to the display tag and the other end of which is connected to a stationary member positioned in spaced relation with the price rail,

a. One of the segments comprising each of said means being flexible about a minor principal axis of inertia at its medial cross-section, and

b. One of the segments comprising each of said means being longitudinally-curved about the minor principal axis of inertia at its medial crosssection for resilient stretch.

2. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 1 in which the means at the one end of the display tag connected to the price rail, and the means at the other nd of the display tag for connecting to a stationary member are both resiliently stretchable.

3. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 2 in which both said flexible connecting segmented means comprises a plurality of serially-connected, longitudinally-curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends.

4. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 1 in which there are a plurality of display tags connected in longitudinal spaced relation; the first and last of said tags being connected by flexible means with the price rail and stationary support respectively; one of said means being resiliently stretchable.

5. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 4 in which both the means at the end of the first display tag connected with the price rail; and the means at the end of the last display connected with the stationary support, are resiliently stretchable.

6. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 5 in which said flexible segmented means connecting said first and last tags with the price rail and stationary support respectively comprises a plurality of serially-connected, longitudinally curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends.

7. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 4 in which one of said flexible segmented means connecting said first or last tags with the price rail or stationary support respectively comprises a plurality of seriallyconnected, longitudinally-curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends.

8. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 1 in which one of said segmented means comprises a plurality of serially-connected, longitudinally-curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends. 

1. An animated, self-oscillating price rail marker comprising:
 1. A display tag;
 2. A first segmented means having a predetermined length and opposed ends one of which is connected to the display tag and the other end of which is connected to a price rail; and
 2. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 1 in which the means at the one end of the display tag connected to the price rail, and the means at the other nd of the display tag for connecting to a stationary member are both resiliently stretchable.
 2. A first segmented means having a predetermined length and opposed ends one of which is connected to the display tag and the other end of which is connected to a price rail; and
 3. A second segmented means having a predetermined length and opposed ends one of which is connected to the display tag and the other end of which is connected to a stationary member positioned in spaced relation with the price rail, a. One of the segments comprising each of said means being flexible about a minor principal axis of inertia at its medial cross-section, and b. One of the segments comprising each of said means being longitudinally-curved about the minor principal axis of inertia at its medial cross-section for resilient stretch.
 3. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 2 in which both said flexible connecting segmented means comprises a plurality of serially-connected, longitudinally-curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends.
 3. A second segmented means having a predetermined length and opposed ends one of which is connected to the display tag and the other end of which is connected to a stationary member positioned in spaced relation with the price rail, a. One of the segments comprising each of said means being flexible about a minor principal axis of inertia at its medial cross-section, and b. One of the segments comprising each of said means being longitudinally-curved about the minor principal axis of inertia at its medial cross-section for resilient stretch.
 4. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 1 in which there are a plurality of display tags connected in longitudinal spaced relation; the first and last of said tags being connected by flexible means with the price rail and stationary support respectively; one of said means being resiliently stretchable.
 5. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 4 in which both the means at the end of the first display tag connected with the price rail; and the means at the end of the last display connected with the stationary support, are resiliently stretchable.
 6. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 5 in which said flexible segmented means connecting said first and last tags with the price rail and stationary support respectively comprises a plurality of serially-connected, longitudinally curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends.
 7. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 4 in which one of said flexible segmented means connecting said first or last tags with the price rail or stationary support respectively comprises a plurality of serially-connected, longitudinally-curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends.
 8. A price rail marker in accordance with claim 1 in which one of said segmented means comprises a plurality of serially-connected, longitudinally-curved segments, each segment having opposed ends connecting with adjacent segment ends. 